TASK 1
You are going to listen to six news items. Listen and choose the best answer A, B, C or D. You will hear the items once only. I repeat, once only. There will be a pause of 30 seconds before each news item to give you time to read through the questions to that item.
1. Recently, the Congolese President ...
2. The destruction of the weather satellite caused commotion in the US as ...
3. The Burmese government's offer of talks with the opposition ...
4. The Turkish society ...
5. The recent fighting between north and south Sudan has started because ...
6. The Hague Tribunal ...
TASK 2
You are going to hear an interview. Listen and choose the best answer A, B, C or D. You will hear the piece once only. I repeat, once only. There will now be a pause of 1 minute to allow you to look through the questions.
7. When it comes to Iraq, Gov. Bill Richardson thinks ...
8. According to Gov. Richardson, it is true that ...
9. In Gov. Richardson's opinion, ...
10. The United States can deal with Iran by ...
TASK 3
You will hear a radio discussion. Listen and complete the notes by writing a few words. You will hear the piece twice. I repeat, twice. There will now be a pause of 30 seconds to allow you to look through the questions.
11. According to the Jim Webb amendment, the dwell time ...
12. John Warner didn't support the amendment because he was ...
13. If the Webb amendment gets passed, commanders in the field may deal with it by ... or ...
14. According to one speaker, no number of troops could ...
TASK 4
You will hear a presentation made by an expert on the transformation of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Listen and complete the notes by writing a few words. An example has been done for you. You will hear the piece once only. I repeat, once only. There will now be a pause of 1 minute to allow you to look through the questions.
Military doctrines applied in China:
  • old doctrine - major and nuclear war
  • new doctrine - (15) ...
Reasons for the PLA' s transformation:
  • competition with neighbours
  • Taiwan
China will use its Armed Forces against Taiwan if (16) ...

Changes within the PLA:
  • Land troops - reduced
  • Infantry - (17)
A big discrepancy in service conditions has caused (18)

The Chinese Army still has to deal with some difficulties

The greatest impediment to overcome by the PLA is (19)

The effectiveness of the transformed PLA remains unknown until (20)
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.